Trimming mechanism for sewing machines



Sept. 27, 1927.

v J. R. MOFFATT TRIMMING MECHNIS-M FOR SEWING MACHINES.'

Filed Aug. 1.8.v 1924 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Se t. .Y 1,643,820 p 27'1927- J. R. Mor-'FATT y TRIMMING MEGHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINESv Filed Aug. 1a. '1924- 7 sheets-sheep;

Sept. '2'1 1927.

J. R. MOFFATT TRIHMING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 18. 1 924 Mln l l lMlm TRIIIIING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Aug. 1a. 1924 'v sheets-shet esv 1,643,820 J. R. MOFFATT TRIHMING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES sept. 27. 1927.

' vFiled Aug. 18. 1924- '7 sheets-sheet "l Patented Sept. 27, 1927.

MNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES R. MOFFATT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNION SPECIAL. MACHINE COIVIPANY,V OF CHICAGO,` ILLINOIS, A.. CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TRIMMING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

Application Ied August 18, 1924. Serial No. 732,709.

rlhe invention relates to new and useful improvements in trimming mechanisms for sewing machines, and more particularly to a trimming mech anism which may be connected to and disconnected from .its operating mechanism, so as tov be rendered ineffective, when desired.

An object of the invention is to provide means for disconnecting the trimming mechanism from its operating means, which is so 'zonstructed that said trimming mechanism may be disconnected without stopping the stitching mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a trimming mechanism of the above character, wherein they trimming mechanism can be connected to its roperating mechanism only when the machine is at a standstill.y

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more. fully disclosed.

In the drawings, which show by way of illustration o-ne embodiment rof the invention- Figure 1 is a` front view showing a machine embodying my improvements;

Fig. 2 is a front end elevation of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the machme, w1th parts in section;

Fig. a is a view partly in section and partly in plan, taken on the line 4 4 of F 3;

5 is a section on the line 5d5 of Fig.

Fig. t3 is a section on'the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

v r fhig. I is a section on the line (-r of F 6; i e

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the bracket Fig. v12 is al section on the line 12-12 of Fig. l1.

1 3 is a plan view of a portion of the presser foot showing the edge guides associated therewith.

The invention is directed to a trimming mechanism for sewing machines, which trimming mechanism is adapted to be thrown out of operation at the willof the operator, but which can only be. thrown into operation when the machine is at a standstill.

The trimming mechanism consists of upper and lower trimming blades, of which the upper blade alone is movable. This upper blade is carried by a head which is adapted to reciprocate vertically on suitable guiding members carried by the overhanging arm of the machine. The head which carries the movable member is capable of beingl connected to and disconnected from a'member which is moved continuously. by suitable connections with the main shaft. The trimming head is connected up to this movable member by means of a latch. ming head isvlifted by means of a spring, when it is unlatched from the operating mechanism and this moves the movable trim-- ming blade away from the stationary blade and holds it in its inoperative position. The latch is disconnected from its operating mechanism by a treadle controlled rock shaft. Said rock shaft has aV depending arm which is adapted to engage the latch when the treadle is depressed and when the latch is released from its operating mechanism the spring at once operatesv to lift the head carrying the trimming` member to inoperative position. The trimming head can only be connected with the operating device by shifting` the same to a position where the latch can swing to al position for connecting' said? trimming head to the Aoperating mechanism therefor. The latch is normally held spring pressed in such position as to engage the operating mechanism therefor, and always maintains a proper position to connect up with the vibrating part therefor when the trimmer blade is moved down to operative position. The treadle cannot bev used for moving the trimming head to operative position, for this can only be done by the operator engaging some part ofthe head or the movable blade and forcing'the same down to operative position. This, of course,

The trimcan only be done when thev machine is idle for the reason that. any attempt to engage this trimming h ad and move it to operative position while the machine is in action might cause the operator to be injured.

Referring more in detail to the drawings` the improved machine includes a work support 1, carried by the bed plate 2, which bed plate has an overhanging arm 3, in which a needle bar 4 reciprocates. A needle lever 5, pivotedat 6 to the overhanging arm, is connected to theneedle bar by means of a link 7 Said needle lever is vibrated by an eccentric strap 8, co-operating with an eccentric 9 on the main shaft 10, and the main shaft 10 is operated by the belt wheel 11, in the usual way. The needle bar 4 carries two needles 12 and 18, and a looper 14 of the thread carrying type co-operates with the two needles beneath the work support. Said looper enters both needle thread loops and, therefore, serves to connect these needle 'thread loops below the plane of the work support for the material being stitched. Co-

operating with the needles above the work support is a thread laying hook 15. This thread laying hook 15 is carried by a lever ed in one arm of the lever 16. and at its other 21, see Fig. 3.

end to a ball stud carried by a depending arm 18, which is secured to the extreme outer end of a rock shaft 19. This rock shaft 19 is mounted in the bearings 20 and The rock shaft is oscillated by means of an arm 22 rigidly connected to the rock shaft. Said arm 22 carries a ball stud 23 to which an eccentric strap 24 is connected. Said eccentric strap 24 co-operates with an eccentric on the main shaft 10, beneath the work support, see Fig. 2. As the main shaft rotates, it will oscillate the rock shaft and the rock shaft will in turn, through the depending arm 18, oscilla'te the lever 16, and thus cause the thread hook to vibrate in a path in front of the needles. Said thread hook is adapted to engage a cross thread and form a loop therein, which loop is positioned so as to be properly entered by the needle 12. Suitable means is provided for guiding the cross thread and for providing the necessary amount of thread to form a connection between the needle threads above the work, but it is not thought necessary to go in'to these details as this thread laying mechanism shown is in general like that shown in my prior Patent No. 1,405,855, granted February 7th, 1922.

The stitching mechanism forms, therefore, two lines of loops which are connected above and below the material. The needles may be set so 'that one of them operates outside of the material being stitched, while the other penetrates the material, and thus the connected lines of stitching extend'over the edge of the material being stitched.

The material is held on the work support 1 by means of a presser foot 26, and the material is fed across this work support by feed dogs 27 and 28, which may be given a differential movement relative to each other, if desired. The main feed dog 27 is carried by the feed bar 29 which is raised and lowered by means of an eccentric 30, and is moved back and forth by a feed rocker 31. This feed rocker is vin turn oscillated by means of an arm 82, connected by a link 33 to an eccentrically set pin 34, carried by the main shaft. The other feed dog 28 is raised and lowered with the main feed bar and is given a differential movement by means of a link 35, which has an adjustable connection with an arm 36. This differential feeding mechanism forms no part of the present invention, but has merely been shown and described in detail in order to give a better idea of the entire organized machine in which the invention has been embodied.

The machine is particularly adapted for stitching an edging, such as a strip of lace, to a body fabric and in order to prepare the body fabric for the strip of lace, a trimming mechanism has been provided whichtrims the body fabric in advance of the stitching mechanism. This trimming mechanism consists of a lower stationary ledger blade 37 and an upper movable trimming member 88. The movable trimming member 88, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, is located well in front of the needles 12 and 13. The upper movable member 38 is carried by an arm 39, which is connected toa head 40, which is adapted to be reciprocated. The arm 39, as clearly shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings, includes a supporting shank which is adjustably connected to the trimmer ,head 40, and said shank extends across in front of the needles, and then extends forwardly at 41 from where it extends backwardly upon itself, so as to form a recess 42. The trimming blade is mounted in the portion 43 which extends backwardly upon the shank and is clamped .thereto by means of a clamping plate 44 and a clamping bolt 45. The strip of lace tovbe stitched to the body fabric is led through a suitable guide 46, thence downwardly through the recess 42., and thence b-e neath a guiding arm 47, carried by the presser foot. This guiding arm 47 is rigidly attached to the presser foot and extends laterally at right. angles to the line of feed. The presser foot is cut away directly in front of this guiding arm, and the guiding arm is rounded so that a strip of edging will pass around the guiding arm and underneath the presser foot where it is stitched to the body fabric, likewise passing beneath the preser foot. The body fabric, however, goes underneath the front end of the foot and the edge will be trimmed before it reach-es the point where the edging passes underneath the foot. In order to guide this edging, l have provided an edge guide 48, carried by a shank 49, which is adjust-ably attached to the presser foot by a screw 50,. passingthrough a slot in the shank. This permits a limited range ot adjustment of the edge guide and the edge guide directs the left-hand edgeot the edging which is to beunited to the body fabric,y and this lett-hand edge is directed so as to pass between the needles 12 and 13. Also mounted on this guiding arm 47 is another edge guide 51, which is capable of being shifted from one position to another on the guiding` member, and a limited adjustment in each position. This is accomplished by providing said edge guide 51 with a supporting shank 52, which lies against the back face of the guiding arm 47. A set screw 53 passesthrough an elongated slot 54 in the shank 52 and is threaded into one ot the holes 55 on the guiding arm. Then this guide is properly set, the edging will be directed between the two guides 48 and 51 and properly led beneath the toot and to the stitching mechanism. The presser foot, also, hasra needle throat 56, through which the two needles 12 and 13 pass, and sai-d throat is provided with the usual stitch finger over which the cross thread is laid during the forming of the stitches.

Thev machine is adapted to prepare an edge ot Yfabric for the stitching of a lace edging thereto. This preparationv consists in trimming the edge in advance of the stitching or' the edging thereto, and. this is accomplished by the trimming members 37 and 38,. above referred to. The trimming member 37 is carried by a supporting bracket 57,. and is clamped thereto by means ot a plate 58 and a bolt 5.9.l This bracket is mounted on a shank 60 which is adjustably secured to the depending apron 61 ol' the cloth plate. There are spaced lugs (S2-62. on the apron, and the shank 60 lies between these lugs, see Fig. (i. The brac te 57,. which carries the sta` tionary ledger blade of the trimming mechanism is also-provided with a supporting ledge 63, on which rests the front edge of the throat plate .64, see Fig. 5. This makes a very durable support for the trimming blade and also a support for the throat plate. The cloth plate is provided with a section 65, which is capable of being moved away' from the front end of the throat plate 64. The section 65 is mounted on an arm titi which is pivoted at 67 to suitable lugs carried by the cloth plate and depending apron thereof. Also mounted on this arm 66 is a cover plate 68 which covers the parts oi the stitching mechanism beneath the work sup.- port located at the right of the throat plate..

The trimming blades are located so as to trim the edge ot' the body fabric, so that said trimmed edge will pass just outside or to the right of the needle 13 in the present adjustment off the machine. This may beI shifted sothat the trimmed edge will passin between the needles and it the trirunfied edge passes between the needles, then said trimmed edge will be cevered by the loopcr threads. l/Vhen, however, it passes tol the right `of the needle 13, the stitches will all. be formed in the body fabric and the lace edging will be secured by the needle. threads and the cross stitching above the material.

The trimmed ott strip is deflected downwardly by means of a deilector which` is located ust in rear of the movable trimming blades, see Fig. 5, and operates to deticct thel out o-l', strip downwardly against the iu- Clined section 70 of the cover plate 68, and thus toward the front of the machine, so'` that trimmed ofi' strip will not interfere with theV stitching mechanism or par-ts of the machine in rear of' the trimming bladesl The movable trimming blade is carried by an arm which is so shaped as to provide a recess 42, so that the edging to be stitched, led from its source ot` supply, may pass down in rear of the trimming blade and thus be properly located to ber un-ited to the body Jfabric.

The movable trimm-ing blade moves up and down with the trimming head 4Q, on which it is mounted. Said trimming head 40 is provided with a sleeve 71, which is adapted to slide ena guiding post 7 2', rigidly mounted in an arm 73 of a bracket 7 4. This bracket 74 is secured to the needle head ot the machine bysuitable screws 7 5y and 76, see Fig, 3'. The rod is secured to the bracket by means of a set screw 77, see Figs. 9 and 11. Also, depending from the bracket 7 is a guide 78, which is rectangular in cross section and which is secured tol the bracket by means of a set screw 7 9. The head 40 carries a rearwardly extending arm 80, which is forked so as to engage this arm 7 3. Thevpurpose ot this arm is to prevent the trimming head from: oscillating on the rod 72.. In other words, the head moves up and down on said rod and the arm 8O keeps it from swinging to the right or the lett. and thus Vholds the trimming blade in proper position to co-o-perate with the stationary blade on the work support of the machine. The head 40 is reciprocated by means of a link 8,1, which link is connected to a lcver 82. The lever 82 is mounted to turn freely on a sup-porting fulcrum member 83. This tulcrum member 83- ismounted in a bearing sleeve 84 carried by the bracket 74, see Fig. 9. Also, mounted on this ulcrum member 83 is a sleeve 85. The sleeve 85 has a rearwardly extending arm 86 and also an upwardly extending arm 87. The arm 37 is connected by a link 88 to an arm S9, carried lll) CTI

by asplit sleeve 90, which is rigidly clamped to the shaft 19. The shaft 19 is oscillated by the eccentric beneath the work support through an eccentric strap 211, as has already been described, and as this shaft 19 oscillates it will, through the linlr 88 and arm 87, oscillate the sleeve carrying the rearwardly projecting arm 86. The lever 82, which is connected to the trimming head is adapted to be connected to this arm 86 tlrough a latch 91. The latch 91 is pivoted at 92 to the Arear end of the lever 82, and is normally spring pressed by a spring 93 toward the end of said arm. Said latch is limited in its countercloclrwise movement by means of shoulders 911 which the upper face of the lever 82. A spring 95 has one end engaged underneath the lever 82 and is coiled about the fulcrum sleeve of tl e lever and the sleeve 84, as shown in Fig. 12. The other end ot this spring engages over the bracket T3, see Figs. 9 and 11. The purpose of this spring is to raise the inner end of the lever 82 and the trimming head connected thereto` when the latch 91 is released from the arm 86. In other words, the parts are moved to the position shown in Fig. 11 by means of a spring.

Tt willreadily be seen, however, that the trimming head may be moved downwardly so as to raise the rear end of the lever 82 and allow the latch. to engage over the arm 86, and thus rigidly secure said arm 86 to the lever which is connected to the trinnning head. The arm 86, as has been stated, is constantly vibrated through the connection to the rock shaft 19, and, of course, vwhen the trimming head is connected up to this arm, then the lever 82 will be vibrated` and this will raise and lower the trimming head. This lowering of the inner end of the lever 82 and the moving of the trimming head downwardly brings the trimming blade into proper position to co-'operate with the ledger blade in the `trimming of the edge of the fabric. When the latch, 91, however, is released, then the spring 95 will at once shift the lever 82 so as to bring the latch down to a point where it is positively held ont of engagement with the arm 86, and also positively lifts the trimming head so as to move the trimming blade away from its position for co-operation with the ledger blade. This not only renders the movable blade inoperative, but it moves it to a position out of the way so that the machine may be used without trimming the edge of the fabric.

ln order to release the latch, T have provided a. treadle actuated means. The treadle which is of the` usual construction and located beneath the table on which the machine mounted, is connected to a lever 90, rigidly attached to a fulcrum shaft 97, mounted in the standard of the overhanging arm. Said lever is secured to the fulcrum shaft by a set screw 98. The lever has an' upstanding arm 99,"which carries at its upper end a laterally extending lug100.

Mounted on the shaft 19 and freely turning thereon is a sleeve 101'. This sleeve 101 carries a depending arm 102, which is bent laterally at 103, so as to Ylie in rear of the latch 91. The sleeve 101 also has a depending arm 104 which entends laterali7 yand thence downwardly at 105, so as to lie in the path of movement of the lug 100. When the treadle is depressed this lug 100 will engage the arm 104 and will shift the sleeve so as to move thev arm 102 toward the/rear'of the machine. Tnasmuch as the laterally projecting portion 103 of the arm 102 is in rear of the latch 91, it will engage said latch and move the latch against the action of the spring 93 and cause the latch to release the arm 86..` A suitable coil spring 10G encircles the sleeve 101 and is connected at one end to the overhanging arm and at its other end to the arm 104 and this spring normally tends to turn the sleeve 101 so as to retract the arm 102 from engagement with the latch. The spring also holds the sleeve and the arm carried thereby from oscillation `ith the shaft 19, which turns freely in the sleeve.

When it is desired to render the trimming mechanism ineffective, the operator depresses the treadle, or operates the knee shift, which pulls down on the lever 96 and this in turn moves the arm 102 outwardly or rearwardly c until it engages the latch which connects the trimming head to the reciprocating` arm 86. This pushes the latch rearwardly and releases the same from the arm 86, so that the spring 95 will operate to moveth-e lever 82. lifting the trimming head and holding said trimming head in raised position, and also the latch in its lowered position where the shoulder 941 will hold the latch from anyl possible engagement with the arm 86.. y

ltwill be noted that the treadle controlledY .means merely operates to release the latch and has nothing whatever to do with the raising of the trimming head. rlhis is done by means of the spring 95. Then it is desired to put the trimmer back intooperation, the trimming head must be depressed against the action of the spring 95, so as to lift the latch to such position that it can again engage the arm 86. Of course, meanwhile the treadle is released so that the latch'is free to swing' into position to engage the arm 86. The movement of the trimming' head downwardly must be done manually by the operator and cannot be doneby the treadle n'iechanism. This can be done by either the operator engaging the movable trimmer blade or the trimming head or the lever* 82k and the moving of the same by force to a position where the lever 82 may be connected to the arm 86. Tnasmuch as this isa hand operation, the machine musty be brought to a standstill, and the trimming head is manipulated to connect it up to the actuating mechanism therefor, which actuating mechanism is, of couree, continuously moving when the machine is in operation. In other words, I have provided a trimming mechanism which may be rendered ineffective while the machine is in operation and is moved without stopping the machine to idle or inoperative'position when it is disconnected from its actuatingmeans. This is accomplished by the spring, above referred to. On the other hand, when it is desired to put the trimmer into operation, the machine must be stopped and therefore, there is no possiblelchance of the operator being injured by trying to throw in the trimmer and without stopping the machine.

1While I have shown my improved trimming mechanism and throw-out therefor applied to a machine for applying a lace edgn ing to a body fabric, itl will be understood that the ltrimming mechanism can be used in connection with other types of machine where it is desired to render the same ineffective at the will of the operator.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

l. A trimming mechanism` for sewing machines, inclu-ding in combination, a work support, an overhanging arm, a rock shaft mounted on said overhanging arm, a movable trimming blade, a head o-n which said movable blade is mounted, a supporting bracket carried by said overhanging arm, a member mounted on said bracket and connected to said rock shaft whereby said member is vibrate'd, a lever connected to said reciprocating head, a latch carried by said lever and adapted to connect with said vibrating member on the bracket for reciprocating said head.

2. A trimming mechanism for sewing machines, including in combination, a work support, an overhanging arm, a rock shaft mounted on said overhanging arm, a movable trimming blade, a head on which said movable bla-de is mounted, aV supporting bracket carried by said overhanging arm, a member mounted on said bracket and connected to said rock shaft whereby said member is vibrated, a lever connected to said re-k ciprocating head, a latch carried by said lever and adapted to connect with said vibrating member on the bracket for reciproeating said head, a spring for moving the latch into engagement with said member, and manual controlling devices for disconnecting said latch from said vibrating mem-v ber without stopping the machine.

8. A trimming mechanism for sewing Ymachines, including in combination, a work support, an overhanging arm, a rock shaft mounted on said overhanging arm, a movable trimming blade, a head on which said movable blade is mounted, a supporting bracket carried by said overhanging arm, a member mounted on said bracket and connected to said rock shaft whereby said member is vibrated, a lever connected to said reciprocating head, a latch carried by said lever and adapted to connect with said vibrating member on the bracket for reciproeating said head, a spring for moving the latch into engagement with said member, and manual controlling devices for disconnecting said latch from said vibrating member Without stopping the machine, and a spring for moving said trimming blade to an inoperative position when released from said vibrating member.

4f. A trimming mechanism for sewing machinesincluding` in combination, a work support, an overhanging arm, a bracket mounted on said overhangingl arm, a guide bar carried by said bracket, a head mounted toref ciprocate on said guide bar, a lever pivotally connected to said bracket and having a link connection with said reciprocating head, a movable trimming blade mounted on lsaid head, a rock shaft mounted on said overhanging'arm, a depending arm carried by said rock shaft and having a link connection with said lever whereby said head is raised and lowered.

5. A trimming mechanism for sewing ma# chines including` in combination, a work support, an overhanging arm,a bracket mounted on said overhanging arm, a guide bar carried by said bracket, a headmounted to reciprocate on said guide bar, a lever pivotally connected to said bracket and having a link connection withy sai-dV reciprocating head, a movable trimming blade mounted on said head, a rock shaft mounted on said overhanging arm, a depending arm carried by said Yrock shaft and having a link connection with said lever whereby said head is raised and lowered, said connection betweenthe rock shaft and lever including a springactuatedrlatch and manually controlled means for disengaging-the latch so as to release the trimming head from its actuating member.

'6. A trimming mechanism for sewing machines including in combination, a work support, an overhanging arm, a bracket mounted on said overhanging arm, a guide bar carried by said bracket, a head mounted to reciprocate on said guide bar, a lever pivotally connected to said bracket and having a link connection with said reciprocating head, a movable trimming blade mounted on said Head, a rock shaft mounted on said overhanging arm, a depending arm carried by said rock shaft and having a link connection with said lever whereby said head is raised and lowered, said connection between thev rock shaft and lever including aspring actuated latch and manually controlled means for ist disengaging the latch so as to release the trimming head from its actuating member, and a spring for raising said reciprocating head when released 'from its actuating membei'. a 7. A trimming mechanism for sewing machines, including in combination, a work support, an overhanging arm, a bracket mounted on said overhanging arm, guide bars carried by said bracket, a reciprocating head mounted on said guide bars, a movable trimming blade carried by said reciprocating head, a lever mounted on said bracket, and having a linkconnection with said head, a rock shaft mounted on the overhang-ing arm, a rock arm mounted on the bracket having a link connection with said rock shaft, said rock arm having a projecting arm adapted to kbe connected by a latch to said lever, a spring for holding said latch in engagement with said arm.

8. A trimming mechanism for sewing machines, including in combination, a work sup.- port, an overhanging arm, a bracket mounted on said overhanging arm, guide bars carg ried by said bracket, a reciprocating head mounted on said guide bars, a movable trimming blade carried. by said reciprocating.,

head, a lever mounted o n said bracket, and having a link connection with said head, a rock shaft mounted on the overhanging arm, a rock arm mounted on the bracket having a link connection with said rock shalt, said rock arm having a projecting arm adapted 4to be connected by a latch to said lever, a

spring for holding said latch in engagement with said arm and manually controlled means for moving the latch for releasing the reciprocating head from its actuating mechanism. f

9. A trimming mechanism for sewing machines, including in combination, a Vwork support, an overhanging arm, a bracket mounted on said overhanging arm, guide bars carried by said bracket, a reciprocating a head mounted onA said guide bars, a movable trimming blade carried by said reciprocating head, a leverl mounted on said bracket,

and having a linkconnection with said head,

a rock shaft mounted on the overhanging arm, a rock arm mounted on the bracket having a link connection with said rock shaft, said rock arm having a projecting arm adapted to be connected by a latch to said lever, a spring for holding said latch in engagement with said arm and manually controlled means for moving thelatchiaor releasing the reciprocating head from its actuating mechanism, and a spring for raising said reciprocating head when disconnected from its actuating mechanism for positioning said movable blade in an inoperative position. v Y

l0. A trimming mechanism for sewing machines, including in combination, a Work support, an overhanging arm, a rock shaft mounted on said over-hanging arm, a recip- Yrocating head carried by said overhanging and disconnect the same trom said vibrating member, a. second arm carried by said sleeve and treadle control means -for operating said second arm whereby said head is disconnected from the rock shaft.

ll. A trimming mechanism for sewing machines, including in combination, a work support, an overhanging arm, a .rock shaft mounted on said overhanging arm, a recip-V rocating head carriedby said overhanging arm, a movable trimming blade mounted on said head, a member vibrated by said, rock shaft, a lever connected to said reciprocatingv head, a latch tor connecting said lever to said vibrating member, a sleeve freely mounted on the rock shaft and having a depending arm adapted to engage said latch and disconnect the same trom said vibrating memer, a second arm carried by `said sleeve and treadle control means tor operating said second arm wherebysaid head is disconnected from the rock shaft, and a spring for raish ing thc trin'iming head when disconnected from the actuating member. Y

l2. A trimming' mechanism for sewing machines, including in combination, a work support, aiioverhanging arm, a rock shaft mounted on said overhanging arm, a'reciprocating Ahead carried by said overhanging arm, a movable trimming blade mounted on said head, a member vibrated by said rock shaft, a lever connected to said reciprocating head, a latch for connecting saidlevei to said vibrating member, va sleeve freely mount-ed on therock shaft and havinga depending arm adapted to engage -said'latch and disconnect ythe same from said vibrating member, a second arm carried by said sleeve and treadle control means for operating said] second armwhereby said head is disconnecteed trom the rock shaft, and aspring :tor

raising the trimming head when disconnected from the actuating member, a second spring for moving said arm kaway i"rom the latch when said trea'dle is released so that said latch is free to connect up with the ,actuating member when in properpcsition for making connection.A Y

13..A trimming mechanism 'for sewing machines, including in combination, a work support, an overhanging arm, a roca 'shaft mounted on said overhanging arm,*a reciprocating head carried by said overhanging arm, a movable trimming blade mounted on said head, amember vibrated by said rock shaft, a lever connected to said reciprocating hea'd, a latch for connecting said lever to said vibrating member, a sleeve freely mounted on the rock shaft and having a depending arm adapted to engage said latch and disconnect the same from said vibrating member, a second arm carried by said sleeve and treadle control means for operating said Second arm whereby said head is disconnected from the rock shaft, and a spring vfor raising the trimming head when disconnected from the actuating member, a second spring` for moving said arm away from the latch when said treadle is released so that said latch is free to connect up with the actuating member when in proper position for making connection, said latch being spring pressed toward said vibrating member whereby said latch will connect thereto when the head is manually lowered for placing the trimming blade in operative position.

lil. The combination of a cloth plate, an overhanging arm, a stationary trimming blade carried by the cloth plate, a reciprocating headv carried by the overhanging arm, a pair of needles mounted on said overhanging arm, an arm carried by the reciprocating head and extending in front of said needles, said arm being projected forwardlyand thence backwardly upon itself, and a movable trimming blade carried by the free end of said arm.

15. The combination of a cloth plate, a pair of needles, a looper cooperative with the needles beneath the cloth plate, cross thread laying mechanism operating with the needles above the cloth plate, a presser foot, a stationary trimming blade carried by the cloth plate, a movable trimming blade cooperating-with said stationary blade, said blades being located in front of theneedles or trimming and preparing an edge of abric to be stitched, a reciprocating head upporting said movable trimming blade, said head having an arm extending in front ofthe needles, thence. forwardly and rearwardly upon itself to provide a recess through which a strip of edging may be directed to the stitching mechanism at a point in rear of the trimming blade.

16.v The combination of a cloth plate, a pair of needles, a looper cooperative with the needles beneath the cloth plate, cross thread laying mechanism operating with the eedles above the cloth plate, a presser foot. stationary trimming blade carried by the clot-h plate, a movable trimming blade cooperating with said stationary blade, said blades being located in front of the needles for trimming' and preparing an edge of fabric tov be stitched, a reciprocating head supporting said movable trimming blade, said head having an arm extending in front of the needles, thence forwardly and rearwardly upon itself to provide a recess through which a strip of edging may be directed to the stitching mechanism at a point in rear of the trimming blade, means for reciprocating said trimming head, including a vibrating member and a spring controlled latch for connecting the trimming head to said vibrating member, a treadle controlled means for disconnecting said latch from the vibrating member for rendering the trimming blade inoperative, and a spring for raising the trimming blade when released from said vibrating member.

17. A trimming mechanism for sewing machines, includingin combination, a cloth plate, an overhanging arm, guide bars carried by said overhanging arm, and depending therefrom, a reciprocating head mounted to move freely up and down on said guide bars, a rock shaft mounted on the overhanging arm, a lever carried by said overhanging arm and having a link connection to said rock shaft, a second lever carried by said overhanging arm and having a link connection with said reciprocating head, a latch carried by said last named lever and adapted to engage an arm carried by the first named lever whereby the vibrations of the rock shaft are imparted through the levers to the reciprocating head, and manually controlled means for disconnecting the latch without stopping the machine, and a spring for rais` ing the reciprocating head when disconnected from the actuating lever therefor.

18. A trimming mechanism for sewing machines, including in combination, a cloth plate, an voverhanging arm, a rock shaft mounted on the overhanging arm, a bracket carried by said overhanging arm, guide bars mounted on said bracket, a reciprocating head mounted on said guide bars, a stub shaft mounted on the bracket a'nd having its axis parallel with the` aXis of the rock shaft, a levermounted on said stub shaft and having an arm connected by a link to said rock shaft, and an arm projecting rearwardly from the vstub shaft, a second lever mounted on the stub rshaft and having a link connection with said reciprocating head, said second lever having a rearwardly projecting arm on which a spring controlled latch is mounted, said latch being adapted to connect the rearwardly projecting arms to the two levers whereby the rock shaft will raise and lower the head, manually controlled means for releasing the latch for disconnecting the reciprocating head from the rock shaft, and a spring for shifting the levery connected with the reciprocating head when disconnected from the rock shaft.

19. The combination of a cloth plate, an overhanging arm, a stationary trimming blade carried by the cloth plate, a reciprocating head carried by the overhanging arm, stitch forming mechanism including a needle, an arm carried by the reciprocating head and extending laterally in front of the needle, said afin being projected forwardly and thence laterally upon itself, said lastnalned pol-tion of the arm being spaced from the portion of the a1-1n connected to the reciprocatingl head so that a strip of material may be fed through said space to the l l ture. y

JAMES R. MOFFATT.

In testimony whereof, I athx my signa- 

